The concession agreement for the Vizhinjam international deepwater multi-purpose port will be signed here on August 17, the Malayalam new year day, according to K Babu, Kerala Ports Minister.

This was decided after a visiting Karan Adani, Executive Director of concessionaire Adani Ports & SEZ, and his team met here with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his cabinet colleagues, Shashi Tharoor MP, and top state government officials.

Cabotage exemption

The Adani team requested the state government for access to quarries locally since it was not practical to ferry in boulders and building stones from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Minister has extended the assurance that this would be taken care of within the scope of applicable rules and regulations, Babu said.

The Chief Minister also promised to send a communication to the Prime Minister urgently seeking his intervention for relaxation of Cabotage law for the proposed Rs 7525-crore port.

Land acquisition

He reminded the Adanis that he has taken up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, on more than one occasion.

Acquisition of required land is complete to the extent of 90 per cent, Babu said. He hoped that the port would become a reality within the scheduled period of four years.

Seeks support

Karan Adani told newspersons after the meeting that complete transparency is the hallmark with respect to all procedures undertaken so far in the project and will continue to be, going forward.

He sought the support from all local people and political parties in the realisation of the long-pending project which would lead to the all-round development of not just Vizhinjam and neighbourhood but the state at large.

PK Kunhalikkutty, Industries Minister, Health Minister VS Sivakumar, MP, Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson, and AS Suresh Babu, CEO and Managing Director of promoters Vizhinjam International Seaport were also present at the meeting.

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